BHS could return to high Street thanks to hard working employees

BHS could return to the high street thanks to the hard work of its former employees

BHS could return to the high street thanks to the hard work of its former employees

When the stores went into administration, its online branch and international stores were sold off as one of the few profitable arms.

Bought by Qatar-based firm Al Mana Group, it was relaunched as BHS International and has no affiliation to the pair deemed responsible for its predecessor’s demise: Sir Phillip Green and Dominic Chappell.

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BHS International, staffed largely by former BHS employees, is now selling its trademark homeware and fashion lines to 1.2 million registered online customers and has ambitious plans to open stores around the world.

“Retail is a very fast moving business and I would definitely not rule out opening stores in the UK,” said managing director David Anderson.

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Sir Philip sold BHS for £1 to three-time bankrupt Chappell, ushering the collapse of the company

It established an 84-strong team of mainly ex-BHS employees in London and opened a new logistics hub in Dubai to serve its customers, almost two thirds of whom are based in or near the Gulf states.

Retail is a very fast moving business

David Anderson

The company will open a flagship “store of the future” in Qatar at the end of next year and is in talks with potential partners who want to launch shops in Europe, Africa and the Gulf to add to its 61 stores in 14 countries.

BHS was sold for £1 by Sir Philip to three-time bankrupt Chappell, ushering the 88-year-old chain into administration and costing 11,000 employees their jobs.

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BHS International has opened a hub in Dubai and hasn't ruled out a return to the British High Street

The last of its 22 stores closed in August. The pair have been criticised for mismanaging the chain and failing to protect the company’s £571million pension scheme.

The online business, which launched a new range of womenswear on Friday, has tweaked its name from BHS to The British Home Store and signed a branding agency to determine changes.

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BHS International now has 1.2 million registered online customers

Mr Anderson added: “The vast majority of my team are ex BHS and everyone wants to make a point.